Lubricating axle-arm



No. 614,656. Patented Nov. 22, |898. E. D. IVES.

LUBRICATING AXLE ABM.

(Application filed July 16, 1898.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

ELLSIVORTH D IVES, OF NORFOLK, CONNECTICUT.

LUBRICATING AXLE-ARIVI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,656, dated November 22, 1898.

Application lel July 16, 1898.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLswon'rH D. IvEs, a citizen of the United States of Americayresiding at Norfolk, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lubricating Axle-Arms, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a View of an axle-arm embodying said improvement, the boX and other appurtenances being represented as cut in longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical cross-section of the parts shown in Fig. l'on the plane denoted bythe dotted line a: Fig. 3 is a View of the parts shown in Fig. 1 in cross-section on the plane denoted by the dotted line y y. 'Fig et is a-view of the parts shown in Fig. 2 in cross-section on the plane denoted by the dotted line z z.

The object of the improvement is the production of an axle-arm for vehicles provided with certain ducts, grooves, and channels which facilitate the equal distribution of the lubricant and the long retention of the same and also serve to take up the grit or dirt which accumulates in the axle-box.

In the accompanying drawings the letter a designates the axle-arm, b the axle-box, and c the cap at the end. It is to be understood that the axle-box is inserted in the hub of a wheel, and in the present instance this wheel can turn in either direction. A

Coming now more particularly to the present invention, the axle-arm is provided along its top with a main longitudinal groove el, intended to receive the oil in the first instance. Along its front and rear sides it is provided with the additional longitudinal grooves e and f, for purposes to appear hereinafter, and through its body are provided ducts g and 7L, respectively, near the inner and outer end of the arm and alternately connecting the main groove with the side grooves e and f, so that the oil from the main groove has initiallya free downward passage to both said side grooves.

Around the body ot' the arm and at about the center of its length I sometimes cut a rather flat encircling channel k, which of course intersects all the grooves above mentioned, and in extremely long arms I may Serial No. 686,110. (No model.)

also provide additional and similar encircling channels t and j, which are located, preferably, outside of or beyond the ducts above mentioned. The function and advantages of these channels are to permit the free passage of air from one side groovefupward and back to the topmos't or main groove to take the place of the oil which flows therefrom and prevent the formation of any vacuum which might retard its ready flow, and these channels will also serve in thoroughly distributing the oil to all bearing-surfaces.

In use the main groove is iilledrwith the lubricant and the box passed onto the arm and held in position. will ever turn in one direction, according to whether the arm in question is at the right or the left side of the vehicle, the slight turning occurringin backinghaving practically no effect. Any given point within the box passes over the main groove and slightly above the surface of thelnbricant, thence it descends on the front side of the axle-arm and takes up a small portion of thelubricant standing in the forward of the side grooves, which therefore constitutes one of the oil-grooves, and finally it passes down under the arm and up at the rear and takes up many small particles of grit, dirt, and the like always present in boxes of this character, all of vwhich are lodged in the rearmost of the side grooves, which therefore becomes the dirt-groove. Soon this rear groove becomes lled to a considerable extent (and in time completely) with such grit and the like, and the lower end of the duct leading thereto chokes almost if not completely, so that there is no longer a flow of oil from the main groove into this side groove* Still it will be clearthat had the nature of the vehicle required that this wheel should turn the other way it would have been the other side groove which would have become choked with grit. Hence use will always convert one side groove into a dirt-groove and leave the other side groove open to act as a distributer for the oil flowing through its duct from the main groove. Meanwhile the encircling channel or channels serve their purpose, as explained above, and permit the lubricant to have a slight circulation, because of the fact that the air displaced in the side groove by the inflowing oil is free to pass up= Thereafter the wheel IOO ward to a point above that in the main groove, as set forth.

I am aware that it is old, broadly, to form longitudinal grooves in an axle-arm, also to form encircling grooves therein; but I am not aware that the two have been combined in one device in the manner herein set out, especially when the ducts from the main groove lead alternately to the side grooves, and thus permit one of the latter to become dead or serve as a receptacle for the grit Within the box.

That is claimed as new is l. The combination with an interiorly smooth axle-box, of an axle-arm having a main longitudinal oil-groove in its top, an additional longitudinal oil-groove in one side, and a longitudinal groove in the other side adapted to collect the grit or dirt, and duets alternately connecting said main groove respectivel1 with said side grooves, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with an interiorly smooth and tapering aXleboX, of a tapering axle-arm therein provided with a main longitudinal groove along its top and with additional longitudinal grooves along its sides, a pair of ducts Connecting the main groove with the side grooves, one near the inner and the other near the outer end of the arm, and an encircling channel surrounding the axle-arm between the ducts and communicating with all said grooves, as and for the purpose set forth.

ELLSORTH D. IVES.

Vitnesses:

XV. E. SIMoNDs, ANITA LooMIs. 

